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New COVID Cluster Detected In China; New Police Shooting Fuels Police; Non-Essential Businesses Allowed To Reopen Today In England. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired June 15, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:23]
ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello and a very warm welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Isa Soares in for Becky Anderson. This our boarding
flights in Frankfurt and shopping in London, Europe is reopening after lockdown. But China is snapping back some of its restrictions after
coronavirus cluster in Beijing threatens a second wave. And global protests rage against racism as a new case of a black man killed by a white police
officer fueled accusations of injustice.
Happy Monday, everyone. Now nations across Europe are hitting the ground running to restart their economies. But China's capital city is back under
lockdown. Greece is now welcoming visitors hoping ready to kick start its tourist season with a bang this week. On Sunday, French President Emmanuel
Macron announced an easing of restrictions, while praising people for their resilience in the battle against coronavirus.
France and Germany have both resumed cross border travel while most of Spain will wait another week. But it's a different story in Beijing where
wartime measures have been adopted to contain the spread of the new outbreak and it's back to business for non-essential shops at least here in
England after the three months of lockdown. This is where we're starting this hour. Anna Stewart joins me now live from the heart of London shopping
district on Oxford Street.
And Anna, it's back to business I assume but still far, far from normal for many I can imagine.
ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: Yes. It's amazing how some things feel incredibly abnormal and some things feel incredibly normal. For instance,
Oxford Street where I am now you can probably see it's actually fairly busy and I say only one in four people are wearing facial coverings, it's not
mandatory on the streets of the U.K., it's only compulsory now on public transport.
Some of that actually really does feel fairly normal. But then you get to the shops themselves. This morning, we saw some really big queues outside
some of the shops, particularly the flagship stores. So the Nike store drops a circus also the Apple store, long keys sneaking around or very
socially distance that feels very different. Many of the keys this morning were actually people wanting to bring things back for repair or for
returns.
Things of course, have been very tricky during lockdown. Most of the cues have dissipated however, and people are just going about going shopping and
each shop feels very different. It's something of a social experiment. Some shops have adopted the government guidance and advice to the absolute
letter. So for that, for fashion stores, for instance, that means changing rooms or shots.
You can't try outfits on purpose. Selfridges the iconic department store right next to me. You can go into a change room, you can try things on but
if you don't buy them, they have to quarantine those outfits for 72 before putting them back on the shop floor. Some shops you see you go into you get
your temperature checks, some don't, some ask you to sanitize your hands, some don't.
So it really is quite different and fairly confusing I'd say as a shopper, knowing what to do as you approach each shop. The only things that really
united are sort of one way systems, round shops and of course the Queuing outside of them. Isa?
SOARES: Now, Anna, I can't imagine how nervous -- Anna, can you still me hear me? Are you still with me here, Anna?
STEWART: I can hear you now, Isa. Sorry. We're cut --
(CROSSTALK)
SOARES: Wonderful. Don't worry. Don't worry. I wasn't sure if it was you or myself having technical issues as we work from home. Let me ask you this,
Anna. How cautious is everyone there? Because I was looking at some of the cues and some of them didn't really look like to me to distancing between
people. So, how cautious are people as a cue to get whatever their basic food or whatever they need to be fixed like you said with Apple stores?
STEWART: See, this was so interesting, Isa. Because before I came out, I was checking the latest statistics from the ONS, the official body for
statistics here in the U.K. And it says that only 37 percent of adults in the U.K. actually feel safe, leaving their homes, let alone going to the
shops. But here Oxford Street, maybe all 37 percent I hear because there are lots of people here, none of them feel as far as I can see anxious at
all.
People I've spoken to are very happy to be out and about. And as I said, only one and four from my very rough poll of people that have been passing
me by here have actually been wearing facial coverings. So I don't feel like there's anywhere near the anxiety that I was actually expecting to see
coming out here given it is day one of shops reopening after nearly three months of them being shot. Isa?
SOARES: Wow. So it seems incredible to see as we get the cameraman to just give us a wide shot, how much -- how many more people that are all behind
you, Anna, as we've -- as we've gone up and down Oxford Street.
[10:05:08]
SOARES: It's always teeming with people. But clearly it was such a difference, isn't it? From what we have not seen the last few months. Anna
Stewart there for us outside Oxford Street. Thanks very much, Anna. Good to see you.
I'm going to take you to France now because people are traveling across the borders once again. See here the border between France and Belgium has
reopened earlier today. French President Emmanuel Macron made the announcement on Sunday basically saying all business and transport
restrictions are now lifted. CNN's Cryril Vanier joins me now live from Paris and more on Mr. Macron's motivation.
And Cyril, we'll talk about his motivation in just a second. But really my question to you is similar question to what I asked Anna. How -- is there a
sense of cautiousness there as we go back to business?
CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Isa, I would tell you that if I had to guesstimate I would say life Is 85 to 90 percent back to normal in
France. I heard Anna's reporting and I would say France is three weeks to a month ahead of where London is right now. I mean, you can shop, people have
been out in the streets for a long time, people have been going back to work for several weeks, back to school for several weeks.
It's all being phased in. It's not backed 100 percent. But it's way ahead of what Anna was describing in London. The French health authorities have
said that the virus the pandemic in France is under control. And all the numbers have been trending the right way for multiple weeks now, hospital
admissions are way down, number of daily deaths way down to the low double digits.
Number of people who test positive for coronavirus when they do the test, less than two percent. So for all those reasons, Mr. Macron decided to open
the country up to the rest of Europe. So yes, European travelers can -- as of today as of midnight, local time, they have been able to come into
France without a certificate and without restriction. I would say there are some exceptions to that, Isa, notably for travelers coming to France from
the U.K. and from Spain because those countries impose restrictions on France and France impose reciprocal restrictions.
Meaning those travelers will have to observe a 14-day quarantine, if they come to France. So for instance, Isa, if I were to travel today from Paris
to London, I would have to observe a 14-day quarantine which would prevent me from relaunching the show you and I normally do together. And if I were
to then come back to Paris, I would have to also observe a 14-day quarantine period.
SOARES: I think you should hurry up and come back, Cyril. But on a very serious matter now, you talked about travel within travel -- within Europe.
What about travel outside of Europe, did Mr. Macron give any senses to -- as to when this may happen?
VANIER: Yes, there's less certainty on that. But he -- the French president did address this. He said that starting July 1st, so two weeks from now,
the French will be allowed to travel outside of Europe, provided the destination country is a country where the pandemic is under control. If
you parse those words, that remains a pretty vague statement because it will also require destination countries by definition to have open their
borders to travel coming from France.
So we don't know fully what the picture will look like July 1st. And I think it's going to depend country to country and region to region,
depending on how the pandemic is in those destination regions. But it does show that France has the desire to reopen as fast as possible not only to
Europe but to the rest of the world as well.
SOARES: Cyril Vanier there for us in Paris. Cyril, hurry up. Come back. I miss you, my co-anchor friend, buddy. Take care of yourself. Speak to you
soon. Now, I want to take you over to Spain. This country's preparing to reopen for tourism with a pilot program. Nearly 11,000 German tourists
arriving Spain's Balearic Islands to test tourism measure safety. This comes two weeks before the rest of the country is scheduled to reopen for
tour. CNN's Atika Schubert report on Spain's preparations.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
ATIKA SCHUBERT, CNN SENIOR INTENATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: If you're dreaming of a beach holiday, coastal towns across Spain have been working overtime
to prove they can keep visitors safe but it won't be as simple as laying out your beach blanket.
In Canet d'en Berenguer on Spain's Mediterranean Coast, a grid is being laid in the sand to allot nine square meter spaces for visitors. Beachgoers
will need to book space on an app to get access with appointed arrival times.
The mayor says, This new normality brings new beaches, we will adapt, we will try to enjoy it in the best possible way, he says.
In Sanxenxo, on the Atlantic coast, the mayor plans to reopen with a similar grid system and a maximum capacity of 2,300 beach goers a day, less
than 75 percent of previous summers. He says, it's a plan that will help keep the safety distance between people who come to enjoy the beach.
At all Spanish beaches, changing rooms and bathrooms will be subject to strict disinfection with limited capacity.
[10:10:06]
SCHUBERT: Sun loungers and parasols will need to be cleaned at regular intervals and kept at least two meters apart.
For locals, the new rules will be worth it, if it can help to revive the summer economy.
It depends on how many people come to the beach this man tells us. If it continues as it is now, only for residents it wouldn't be necessary. But if
tourists come, and people from abroad, I think it would be a good idea. The Prime Minister says he wants Spain to be the safest holiday destination in Europe, which is why it's only gradually easing up on coronavirus
restrictions. The idea is making guaranteed health and safety as much a selling point as Spain's sun, sea and sand.
Atika Schubert, CNN, Mallorca, Spain.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
SOARES: Now a new cluster of coronavirus cases in Beijing is sparking fears of a second wave of the deadly outbreak. The Chinese government is taking
wartime measures, sending paramilitary forces on patrol to one neighborhood strict lockdowns the back and officials are carrying out mass COVID-19
testing to contain the spread of the virus. Now at least 79 new cases have been reported since Friday which emerged from a wholesale food market.
CNN's Senior International Correspondent Ivan Watson's live for us in Hong Kong with more.
And Ivan, what more do we know about this flare up? I think we -- I think we can call it a flare up and the process of retrying to track everyone
down here.
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We know that the authorities say they've detected 76 -- at least 76 locally transmitted
infections that they have traced back to this market in the south of the Chinese capital since Friday. And they're clearly very concerned about it
in part because A, this market is an essential food supplier for this enormous Chinese city.
More than 80 percent of the produce of the -- of the vegetables and fruits as well as meats and seafood come from this market, it feeds the city.
Second, just an enormous amount of people circulate through this market. So the authorities say they're going to try to contact trace some 200,000
people that they believe have moved through the market since the beginning of this month in about a two-week period.
They've also embarked on a massive testing spree, they've set up nearly 200 sample collecting sites around Beijing and their testing as of Sunday, some
76,000 people, they've completely locked down 11 residential compounds where the residents are not allowed in or out, and basic necessities and
food are to be delivered to those residents. So we're seeing some dramatic moves to try to contain this outbreak, though we are not seeing a citywide
or provincial shutdown.
The likes of which we saw after the outbreak first emerged in the Chinese City of Wuhan back in December and January of this year.
SOARES: And correct me if I'm wrong, Ivan. But this was one of the largest food markets in Beijing. So what impact if any, does this have, let's say
on the food supply chain on food safety here?
WATSON: It's substantial enough that Chinese officials have talked about and asserted that food security will not be impacted by the closure of this
market, that they're instead going to ensure that food comes in through other avenues. But make no mistake, this is an important piece of Beijing's
infrastructure that has now been shut down with all of the people that work, the thousands and thousands of people who work at this market.
They're all being tested at this time. And the authorities are saying anybody who's been through the place is supposed to go home and stay home
for at least two weeks to be observed, to make sure that they don't get fevers. And the real concern as one editor-in-chief of a Chinese state
newspaper put it, he said that Beijing would not become Wuhan 2.0. Wuhan of course, that city where the coronavirus was first detected back in
December.
But they're clearly concerned that this could spread. Already they've traced several of those 76 cases from the market that have spread to two
neighboring provinces. So they're very worried right now they're canceling sporting events and they've also canceled intra provincial, domestic tour
groups for moving around. Isa?
SOARES: Ivan Watson there for us. Thanks very much, Ivan. Now, on the other side of the globe, nearly 2.1 million COVID-19 cases have been recorded in
the United States. That's more than 115,000 now, people dead. This map shows new cases over the past week compared with the previous week.
[10:15:01]
SOARES: And you can see the six days in dark red had more than 50 percent increase in new cases. However, this graph here shows that seven-day moving
average of new confirmed cases in the U.S. overall. And it appears that number has been somewhat steady for a couple of weeks. Still to come right
here on CONNECT THE WORLD. The killing -- the killing of racial groups during temporary arrest has reignited protests in Atlanta.
Why his death has been ruled a homicide. Plus, a former U.S. Marine makes a big statement with this sign. As a Russian court finds him guilty of
spying. We'll bring you those stories after a short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: There is new outrage in the United States over the police killing of yet another black man over the weekend. Rayshard Brooks died in Atlanta,
Georgia on Friday night. He was shot twice by police while they were trying to arrest him. CNN's Dianne Gallagher explains how the encounter took a
deadly turn but we want to warn you, some viewers may find this video disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Protests against police brutality pressed on for the 20th day in cities across the country, including
Atlanta, outside this burned out Wendy's. Here a memorial is growing in memory of Rayshard Brooks, who was shot and killed by police Friday.
Last night, the Fulton County Medical Examiner ruling the 27-year- old's death a homicide, saying he was shot two times in the back. This police
body cam footage showing the start of the interaction. Watch an Atlanta police officer respond to a call reporting a man asleep in his car at the
Wendy's drive-thru.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's up, my man? Hey. What's up? Hey. Hey, man, you're parked in the middle of the drive-thru line here.
GALLAGHER: Officer Devin Brosnan asked Brooks to move his car. He eventually does to a parking spot close by where Brosnan asks --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How much did you drank tonight? Not much? How much is not much?
GALLAGHER: Brosnan calls in another officer to conduct a DUI test.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got a guy sleeping in the Wendy's parking lot, smell of alcohol. Hard to wake him up.
GALLAGHER: That's when Officer Garrett Rolfe arrives on the scene. Brooks agrees to a breathalyzer test and tells the police --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know. I know you're just doing your job.
GALLAGHER: Rolfe tells Brooks that he's had too much to drink and tries to handcuff him. That's when Brooks begins to resist.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, stop that. You'll get tased. You're going to get tased.
GALLAGHER: Video from a witness shows Brosnan get his taser ready. Brooks grabs it out of his hands, seen on this dash cam video, before running
away. Rolfe fires his taser and follows. At this moment, surveillance video shows the incident take a deadly turn. During the chase, Rolfe reaches for
his handgun. Brooks turns back and appears to fire the taser, and Rolfe shoots his handgun three times.
[10:20:07]
GALLAGHER: The officers eventually provide medical treatment on site before an ambulance arrives to take Brooks to the hospital, where he's later
pronounced dead. After the shooting, Rolfe, who shot Brooks, was fired from the Atlanta Police Department and Brosnan placed on administrative duty,
but that's not enough for Brooks' wife.
TOMIKA MILLER, RAYSHARD BROOK'S WIFE: I want them to go to jail. I want them to deal with the same thing, as if it was my husband who killed
someone else. If it was my husband who shot them, he would be in jail. He would be doing a life sentence. They need to be put away.
GALLAGHER: The Fulton County district attorney says his office is weighing charges against the officers and a decision could come as early as
Wednesday.
PAUL HOWARD, DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF FULTON COUNTY, GEORGIA: If that shot was fired for some reason other than to save that officer's life or to prevent
injury to him or others, then that shooting is not justified under the law.
GALLAGHER: Atlanta's Mayor Keshia Lance Bottoms believes that Brooks' death was entirely avoidable.
MAYOR KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS (D), ATLANTA: This was not confrontational. This was a guy that you were rooting for, and even knowing the end, watching it,
you're going, just let him go. Just let him go. Let him call somebody to pick him up.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: That was Dianne Gallagher reporting there. Well, this hour demonstrators in Atlanta, Georgia and marching on the state capitol
building following the shooting of Rayshard Brooks. CNN's Boris Sanchez is there and joins us now live. Boris, as we are seeing now. Fresh outrage
really in the United States. Give us a sense of the mood on the ground where you are.
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Isa, there is anger there is grief, there is frustration. And there was a call for change that
we've been hearing this morning. Marchers coming through the streets of downtown Atlanta, essentially a half mile from the federal building where
we heard speeches from about a dozen local state leaders, the head of the Georgia NAACP, the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks.
Also rapper Jeezy who emcee the event, he's a big figure here in the City of Atlanta. They walked all the way to the state capitol to have their
voices heard. When I spoke with Jeezy earlier, he told me that he had a very difficult time watching the video of Rayshard Brooks in his encounter
with police on Friday night. But he said that he's inspired by the diversity of the crowd that is behind this movement. Listen to more of what
he shared with me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY WAYNE "JEEZY" JENKINS, RAPPER: I want to commend the youth, I want to commend to people even these people that are here today because this is
what it's about, it's about presence, like presence has to be filled. And I don't think that the momentum is going to die down. I think as things you
know, continue to get worse then we're going to come out on more numbers. And we're going to support each other until they get the message because
we're not going to lose this message.
This is the most momentum we had. I mean, you take Martin Luther King was Selma. He didn't even have this many different mixed races and in ages --
age groups of people and college students and parents and kids, and this is real, you know, this is the new normal.
SANCHEZ: What's your message?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Yes. And the protesters have gathered here outside the state capitol. They're calling for changes to Georgia standard ground law for
repeal of a citizen's arrest law and overall changes in the way that the African-American community relates to police, kinder policing in their
communities. There is a sea of people here, just about as far as the eye can see. Clearly, a strong message being sent to George's legislators
today. Isa?
SOARES: Indeed. And we're seeing an aerial view just so you know, Boris, of the crowds just behind you. It is in a significant -- a significant crowd
now gathering bear in Atlanta. Let me ask you this, Boris. I saw that Rayshard Brooks' wife has been speaking out. What does she want to see
really being done? Because the police chief has stepped down, the officer who shot him has been fired and I believe the second officer is on
administrative duties. What else is she calling for?
SANCHEZ: She is calling for those two officers to both be charged with murder. As you noted, we've already seen quite a fallout from the incident
that happened Friday night. Typically, in these situations, you don't see a police chief resigning. That is a big deal. The fact that this officer was
fired also significant and many similar incidents in the past. That simply does not happen. Nevertheless, there is an investigation that is ongoing.
Atlanta's district attorney in speaking with CNN yesterday signaled that there was something inappropriate about the way that police handled the
incident Friday night and that the investigation will potentially are revealed charges against those officers as soon as Wednesday. Isa?
[10:25:02]
SOARES: Keep on top for those live images and as more develops which will go back to you there. Boris Sanchez there for us in Atlanta, Georgia.
Thanks very much for, Boris.
Now Philippines journalist, Maria Ress says she'll keep on fighting after court found her guilty of cyber label. Ressa is a former CNN bureau chief
who runs the paper news site Rappler. It's known for its coverage of President Rodrigo Duterte. And his brutal war on drugs. Critic says
Rappler's work is the real reason behind the case as the government tries to silence free media. The President's spokesman says the verdict should be
respected.
Reza says reporters should not let themselves be intimidated. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIA RESSA, CEO AND EXECUTIVE EDITOR, RAPPLER: But when power free power tries to hang a Damocles sword over your head, if you allow it to affect
you, they succeed because you're not doing the kind of journalism, that investigative journalism we should be doing. So what we have learned in
Rappler is we swatted away and we keep our eye on the ball.
It makes me wonder and worry, what is the government afraid of? Why are they afraid of journalists? Why must they always make me feel their power?
I think I'm a nice person, I asked very respectfully. Our reporters are very respectful. But they just don't like the questions and we need to get
back to this idea of checks and balances.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Maria Ressa speaking to CNN earlier. Ressa faces up to seven years in prison and she does plan to appeal. Coming up right here on the show.
Dozens of people were arrested this weekend in London, we'll take a look at the emergent far right protests targeting anti-racism protests right across
Europe. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: I have some breaking news to bring you. The U.S. Supreme Court has just announced a landmark decision on gay, lesbian and transgender rights.
The court ruled the Federal law prohibits employers from firing workers just because they belong to one of those groups. The ruling is a defeat for
the Trump administration which argued those workers were not protected under U.S. law.
Well, of course, we'll bring you more as soon as we have over this breaking news from the U.S. -- from the Supreme Court, saying federal law does
indeed protect LGBTQ workers from discrimination.
Now researchers around the world are in various stages of vaccine testing for the novel coronavirus. Robin Shattock is the head on mucosal infection
and immunity in Imperial College in London. He's worked on vaccines and other prevention strategies across the developing world. And he joins me
now. Robin, thank you very much for joining us this hour. First of all, can you explain to us, tell us about this potential vaccine that you're working
on specifically the science behind it?
[10:30:07]
ROBIN SHATTOCK, HEAD OF MUCOSAL INFECTIONS AND IMMUNITY, IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON: Yes. So the approach we're taking is different to many of the
groups in that we're using a vaccine that's based on genetic code, we take the code from the virus that gives the instructions purely for that surface
protein, so not the whole virus. And we use that as our vaccine.
We put that in very small, microscopic fat particles, so that when it's injected into the muscle is taken up by those muscle cells, and they become
like mini factories producing that surface protein that alerts the immune system. So it makes antibodies which we, you know, presume will be
protective against infection when you're exposed to it naturally.
SOARES: And where are you in the stage of human trials? When are these likely to start?
SHATTOCK: So we've kind of moved very fast. It's a new technical we've gone from designing a prototype in January to starting our clinical trial this
week. So we will be injecting the first participant this week, which day it'll be exactly depends on the paperwork, but it's going to happen very,
very soon.
SOARES: And I'm guessing you anywhere from a small number to then a bigger number of people in terms of human trials here. What's the timeline you're
thinking of right now?
SHATTOCK: Yes, I mean, because we're starting, you know, with a technology that's not being used safety's the primary concern here. So we start with a
single individual, then we go up to three individuals, we increase the dose, and then fairly rapidly, we increase the numbers and in this first
phase, we'll recruit up to 300 volunteers to get a large safety bed database so that then we can expand to a large trial in about 6000
participants to see if it actually prevents infection in the community.
SOARES: And if it's successful, when are you hoping vaccines will be available by?
SHATTOCK: I mean, that's the critical question that everybody asks. And it's very hard to give a precise date because it requires getting the
numbers to show that your vaccine works. And that's dependent on the number of transmissions that are ongoing, where you do the trial. So it could be
anything from a few months to six months or even longer. And so we're planning a trial in the U.K., but we're also looking to do it in in other
parts of the world where there may be higher rates of transmission.
SOARES: What stood out to me when I was reading this is that you estimate, Robin, that the whole of Britain could be vaccinated for 200 million pounds
I think, I think for U.S. audiences $250 million with the vaccine now really low costs, I've read something around three pounds, which is like
$5.00. How would that work?
SHATTOCK: Well, that's the cost of goods. And so, it doesn't take into account distributing the vaccine. And we're obviously setting this up as
what we call a social enterprise that we're not in it to make, you know, large markup for the vaccine. We want to make it available in the U.K., but
also in other parts of the world. I mean, one thing you need to recognize is we don't know if this vaccine will work. And that's the most important
thing is to show that it works and hopefully it works well.
SOARES: Robin, very quickly, how are you funding this? Are you getting any government funding?
SHATTOCK: Yes, so we've got government funding to get to this stage and to do the early clinical trials. We've also got some funding from
philanthropic donations, and we've set up a new company called VacEquity Global Health to commercialize the vaccine at affordable price.
SOARES: Robin Shattock, appreciate you taking the time. Do keep us posted on how you get on and come back to us with any developments. Would love to
hear from you. Thanks very much, Robin.
SHATTOCK: Thank you.
SOARES: I want to take you now to the U.S. Supreme Court were a landmark ruling as you heard me say a few minutes ago on LGBTQ workers has been
handed down. Jessica Schneider is there for us. And Jessica, it's a big day for civil rights for LGBTQ community.
JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: It is, Isa. As you mentioned a landmark ruling here at the Supreme Court. This is a ruling in a six-
three decision that now fully protects all American workers who are transgender or gay. Believe it or not, before this ruling, it was actually
legal for employers here in the United States to discriminate even fire someone for being transgender or for being gay.
But now this ruling solidifies the fact that employers they cannot discriminate, they cannot fire in an individual on this basis
[10:30:03]
SCHNEIDER: And what's incredible about this, Isa, is it all came down to the conservative justice, Neil Gorsuch. He's the one who wrote this
opinion. He was actually joined by the Chief Justice John Roberts in a six- three decision. And Justice Gorsuch in this opinion that he wrote, set it out quite clearly. He said, there is now a new rule in the United States.
And that rule bans employers from discrimination.
It all came down to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, particular provision in that act. It banned discrimination on the basis of sex as well as other
things like national origin or religious affiliation. But the question was, what exactly did sex mean? There was a lot of question and debate over does
sex in fact, encompass your sexual orientation or your transgender status? The Conservatives in this case, have they've dissented justices Thomas
Kavanaugh, Alito all saying that this is really something that Congress should worry about and the Supreme Court shouldn't be ruling.
But that is not the case here. The Supreme Court has ruled that title seven encompasses banning discrimination against all of the LGBTQ community. And
that encompasses about 8.1 million Americans working throughout this country. You know, Isa, I actually spoke with one of the plaintiffs in this
case, Amy Stevens in the fall, when they came here to listen to the oral arguments.
Amy Stevens has since passed away, she passed away just about one month ago, she had gone to her employer, a funeral home owner and had said to him
several years ago, I will be transitioning, I will be becoming a woman and she was fired because of that. So she was one of three plaintiffs who
brought this case, the other two were gay men. And I spoke with her about it. It's unfortunate she's not here to see this victory for her and other
transgender individuals as well as gay individuals.
But really a tremendous landmark ruling here that kind of undoes what was legal discrimination for employers. So a big moment for gay rights
activists here and in an opinion written by a conservative justice at that. Isa?
SOARES: Yes. I do wish -- I only wish that she was around to see this historic day when for so many but a loss also for U.S. President Donald
Trump.
SCHNEIDER: Yes, absolutely. And, you know, the conservatives in this case, the three that dissented, they said this wasn't a question for the Supreme
Court, if Congress, the members who are elected by the American people, if they intended for this statute to bar discrimination on the basis of trans
gender or sexual orientation, they should have written it in the statute. And in fact, the Justice is here saying, look, we shouldn't be ruling here
Congress could still in fact, enact a statute that would encompass all of these 8.1 million workers.
But in the end, Justice Gorsuch, as well as Chief Justice John Roberts joined with the liberal wing here and did in fact side with these
transgender and gay individuals. So for sure, a loss for the administration. Isa?
SOARES: Yes. And Jessica, Gorsuch was a Trump -- a Trump appointee, wasn't it? So very interesting indeed. Jessica Schneider there for us. Thanks,
Jessica.
Now in the U.K., more than 100 people were arrested in London this weekend. Take a look at this.
Far right protesters targeted the Black Lives Matter demonstrations. It is the first time we've seen far-right protesters emerge. They say they were
defending statues in Parliament Square, but arrests were made for violent disorder, assault on officers' public indecency as well as other offenses.
CNN Scott McLean joins us now live from London. And Scott, I mean, it was a pretty ugly weekend of violence as we saw in central London.
We saw Black Lives Matters clash with far-right protesters, and it all started to escalate. I remember on Friday as I was anchoring the show,
because of a statue boarded up just behind where you are, in fact over your right shoulder.
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Isa. So things this weekend really had the potential to get out of hand. Not only was there a Black
Lives Matter protest scheduled for this weekend, where we have seen outbursts of violence in the past, but there were also these far right
protestors that you mentioned who came under the auspices of protecting statues, this one in particular of Winston Churchill, which has now been
boarded up for its protection.
It had been defaced at previous rallies. And just for good measure, the Mayor of London also decided to board up two other statues of Gandhi -- of
Gandhi and Nelson Mandela as well. The mayor urged people to stay home.
[10:40:01]
MCLEAN: Not only for risk of transmitting the coronavirus but also because he didn't want to see a clash between these right-wing protesters and the
Black Lives Matter groups either. Police did -- do a pretty good job of keeping the groups apart. The counter protesters were supposed to gather
here in Parliament Square while the Black Lives Matter protesters were supposed to gather about a half a mile north of here.
There were in the end some scuffles that broke out. And there were some other issues that came up. All told more than 100 people were arrested, 23
police officers were also heard at one point they actually had to stand between the two groups of protesters to keep them apart from one another.
Now the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has written an op-ed published just this morning with his take on events.
He called those group of counter protest violent, racist, far-right thugs. He also wrote this, no one who cares about this country can ignore the many
thousands of people who have joined Black Lives Matter movement to protest peacefully as most of them have in the past few days. Now when it comes to
the debate over statues, he wrote this, our history is immensely complex and modern Britain is a product of a vast conglomerate of ideas and
beliefs, not all of which look good in the light of today.
Now, Johnson has also written a book about Winston Churchill, he has vowed to do anything to resist, to fight with his last breath, he said to resist
that statue ever coming down, saying that he was the prime minister who fought back against the Nazis to ensure this country is still free and
Democratic today. The Mayor of London has set up a commission to study statues and monuments around the city.
The London Mayor -- or sorry, the British Prime Minister has also set up his own commission, he says that he will set up his own commission to study
racism and inequality in this country, though, that already has its critics, Isa, who say that look, that will just delay the work that
actually needs to be done.
SOARES: Yes, many --
(CROSSTALK)
MCLEAN: You're asking a question I can't hear you because I just lost the signal.
SOARES: Oh, we seem to have lost him but I think he answered the question anyway, thanks very much. Then we were trying to reconnect you. You've got
the story there from Scott McLean.
Now one photo from those weekend protests that Scott McLean was talking about has really gone viral. It shows a Black Lives Matter protest carrying
an injured counter protest to safety. CNN Producer Sam Abdelaziz spoke with Patrick Hutchinson, who many are calling the hero protester. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN PRODUCER: Is this you in the photograph?
PATRICK HUTCHINSON, ACTIVIST: Yes, that is me in that photograph.
ABDELAZIZ: Can you describe to me what's happening in this picture?
HUTCHINSON: My friends and I put a cordon around this man. He was on the stairs, lying in the fetal position with, you know, anything is about to
happen to him. The first time I saw him was when I started to climb underneath him because I went to pick him up.
ABDELAZIZ: And you could've looked at this man and thought he is my enemy. Why did you choose to help him?
HUTCHINSON: There was a particular thought I had that, you know, you have to show some sort of, you know, love for your fellow man, OK? Regardless.
Because I was saying that if the other three officers that were present when George Floyd was unfortunately murdered, if they -- just one of them
had stepped in and stopped, you know, their fellow officer from doing what he did, he would be alive today.
ABDELAZIZ: And you put him on your shoulder, you carried him over to the police, then what happened?
HUTCHINSON: I'm carrying him. My friends surrounding me, protecting myself and the man on my shoulder. He was, you know, still sort of getting --
receiving blows. You could still feel people trying to hit him.
Carried him over to the police, and I said, here you are. And one of the police officer said thank you. You did a good thing -- good thing there,
man.
ABDELAZIZ: What you want people to take away when they look at that picture?
HUTCHINSON: I think, hopefully, they will take away breaking down the race barriers and realize and see that we are all one people, that we are all
one race.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Incredibly powerful photos become a symbol of unity. And coming up right here on CONNECT THE WORLD. The coronavirus pandemic is shaking up the
world's energy markets. We'll have a surprising announcement from one oil and gas giant. Richard Quest joins me next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Now, one long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic appears to be a quicker global move away from fossil fuels. B.P. has just warned its
investors there will be less demand for oil and gas over a sustained period. And this comes as the company writes down the value of its assets
by a whopping $17-1/2 billion. That is in Q2 in the second quarter. Richard Quest joins me now from New York with more on this transition to a lower
carbon economy.
And, Richard, right around the world of U.S. would have been seeing this, we're seeing lower demand for oil whether people staying at home, less
traveling. How much, Richard, do you think has COVID-19 force B.P. to change gears or rather to accept this new reality?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Completely. I think there's a huge element of this involved. Because what B.P. announced today, yes, they were
revaluing various assets. But it was the oil in the ground, the revaluation of the oil deposits that really drove up the amount and gave the reason why
they were doing it. And it's -- I think it's twofold. It's a lack of demand, because obviously, they're now forecasting industrial production
will not be as great for the foreseeable future.
Therefore, the demand for the oil in the ground won't be. But then there is this shift, as you say, Isa, towards sustainable fuels, which B.P. has
always acknowledged. But I think what's happening as indeed, the statement from the new CEO basically makes clear, is that's happening faster, and all
those valuable assets that are previously highly priced in the ground it has now revalued at a lower level. It is a statement of reality is what
they've done today.
SOARES: Richard, I want to get your take on the airline industry we should we have seen it as really been shaken to the core. We've had the United
Airlines has raised the cash it needs in the last hour. So alerted to whether the COVID crisis. What more can you tell us?
QUEST: Yes, literally by mortgaging off basically, the frequent flyer program to the value of five billion. And look, the frequent flyer programs
of many airlines are often more valuable than the airline itself. And because what they do, of course, the airlines sell their frequent flyer
miles to various credit card companies, supermarkets, who then give it to their consumers as part of a sort of a loyalty program.
And have been many, many cases where airlines have made more money from the frequent flyer program than by actually selling seats. What they're doing
in this case is mortgaging out the frequent flyer receipts that they expect to receive
SOARES: Richard Quest there for us in New York. Thanks very much, Richard. Good to see you.
Now, a Russian court has convicted former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan of espionage and sentenced him to 16 years in prison. Whelan held a sign
saying, look at this, Sham trial when he heard his sentence in Moscow Monday. The sign also called on U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene.
Russia claims Whelan was caught red-handed, but he says he was set up. Let's get more on this.
Matthew Chance joins me now live from London. And Matthew, for those who know very little about this case, take us back to 2018. What is Russia
accused him off here?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I mean, the problem with answering that question is that this trial has been a secret
trial for national security reasons in Russia.
[10:50:08]
CHANCE: And, you know, there have been no witness testimonies that have been made public. There's been no evidence that's been made public. And so
we've just been smizing what has been let that slip by his lawyer by Russian officials and by Paul Whelan himself. But from what we can piece
together, Paul Whelan was in Russia in December 2018. He was supposed to be attending a wedding, and he was staying in an upscale Russian Hotel in the
center of Moscow.
He met an old friend and he'd had several trips to Russia and got some acquaintances there, who passed on to him a USB flash drive. He thought
that the flash drive had photos from a previous trip that it's spent there. But, in fact, according to the Russians, it contained highly sensitive
classified information and within minutes of receiving that hard drive, and he was arrested by officers of the Federal Security Organization, FSP.
The old -- the old KGB. And that was, that was 18 months ago. And these charges of espionage have been hanging over him ever since then. There have
been allegations that he's been mistreated in prison, denied medical care, that he -- that he wasn't able to shower for quite a while. But he's been
kept in isolation from his family and not been able to contact them. Not at least for several months.
Now, he faces this extraordinary long prison sentence of 16 years, which is at the upper level of what the expectations were.
SOARES: Matthew, is he appealing, do we -- is -- we said in the introduction that perhaps he was asking U.S. government for help, President
Trump is he appealing? Do we know from his lawyers whether he has asked for help here?
CHANCE: Well, according (INAUDIBLE) he's certainly going to be appealing in the next couple of weeks. But, you know, obviously, within the same legal
system that has been so heavily criticized and that has convicted him and sentenced him to 16 years so he will be doing that. He has appealed to help
-- for help from the various governments from which he has passports. He's appealed to the President of the United States to intervene to secure his
freedom.
To the Prime Ministers of Britain, Canada and Ireland deals as passports from those three countries. But I think what was interesting is the
speculation that his lawyer, his Russian lawyer came out with shortly after his sentencing. He said that now that sentence has been passed down, Paul
Whelan could be used as a to trade for a Russian national who is being held in a U.S. jail. So it could be part of some kind of, you know, Cold War
style, prisoner swap or spy swap.
SOARES: Matthew Chance there for us in London. Thanks very much, Matthew. And we'll be back after a very short break. Do say right here in CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Now airlines and their thousands of employees are living under new reality at these borders open. CNN Fred Pleitgen got a close look how
Europe's largest airline Lufthansa is operating under strict hygiene measures.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRED PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: As Europe reopens, many of its borders and airlines hope to get some business back. At
Lufthansa's check-in in Frankfurt, it's clear, much has changed.
Of course, keeping physical distance is almost impossible when you're on an international air journey. That's why Lufthansa and many other airlines
have a policy of asking all of their passengers to wear masks both in the airport and on the plane.
[10:55:08]
PLEITGEN: Inside the terminal, a lot of physical distancing measures, but upon boarding, no more. Purser Mike Lauterkom hands out disinfectant wipes,
but otherwise, he says, passengers don't need to change their behavior much.
MIKE LAUTERKOM, PURSER, LUFTHANSA: The only thing we ask the passengers that they wear the mask the whole time. Only if they drink or eat
something, they can take it off.
PLEITGEN: Like many European carriers, most of Lufthansa's fleet remains idle ever since the coronavirus outbreak. The company recently secured a
bail out about $10 billion to help it survive the crisis, but our flight from Frankfurt to Porto is packed.
So as you can see, we're all sitting pretty close together. And that's one of the dilemmas that airlines like Lufthansa but many others as well face.
On the one hand, they need a hygiene concept that works, but it also has to convince weary travelers that it's safe to get back on planes again. Some
travelers a bit concerned.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's also a little bit scary I think because you never know what you might catch or not.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a little bit surprised because I fought actually based on the coronavirus getting, we are sitting very, very close.
PLEITGEN: Lufthansa says state of the art air filters on the planes make infections unlikely.
ANDREAS KAUSER, CAPTAIN, LUFTHANSA: The medics had said that more than 99 percent of those viruses are going to take out by those filters.
PLEITGEN: The pilots, by the way, always have to wear masks on the ground, but never in the air, the captain says.
KAUSER: The face, its expressions are very important if you communicate with your colleague, you know, and you have some strange situation. It's
good to see, is he in fear?
PLEITGEN: Before landing in Portugal, the crew hands out leaflets on how to prevent infections. As airlines tried to convince travelers that holiday
air travel is possible without risking new spikes and coronavirus infections.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: CNN's Fred Pleitgen joins me now. He is live not from Porto but from one of the best cities in the world. Lisbon, Portugal, my hometown.
Fred, our viewers would know that you're often on the road as a senior international correspondent, but this is your first flight in three months.
Talk me through your experience here because I heard one of sound bites on the -- on your piece that passengers don't need to change their behavior
much. I would have thought that is somewhat strange to me.
PLEITGEN: Yes, I mean, you do need to change your behavior a little bit. I think there's two things, Isa, that really stood out to me as you said as
someone who travels quite a lot. On the first hand, everything just takes a lot longer than it did before. The whole check in process takes longer
because the folks who do the check and they have to find out from every single traveler with all these coronavirus restrictions in many countries,
whether people actually allowed to travel to the country that they're trying to check into a flight to get to.
And then for instance, our flight from Frankfurt to Porto was delayed because our plane was waiting for a plane to come in from Sao Paolo, which
had been delayed before. But if those people from Sao Paulo would have missed our flight, they would have had to stay in Frankfurt for about 24
hours to wait for the next flight because right now the frequency of air travel is so little. So all that just takes longer.
And then the other really counterintuitive thing is that you would think right now with so few people actually in international air travel, so few
travelers out there, that the planes will be fairly empty, they're actually a lot fuller because there's much fewer planes in the sky. And obviously
the airlines want to maximize the amount of people they can transport on those aircraft. So those are the two things that really stood out. It is a
bit different, but it does kind of work as well, Isa.
SOARES: Fred Pleitgen there (INAUDIBLE) in Lisbon. Fred, make sure that your producer fascicle comes back with some custard tarts. Thanks very
much, Fred. Good to see you. And that does it for me for this. I'll be back in a few minutes. Don't go anywhere.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
END
